In a bid to distance herself from the controversial remarks made by some of her party’s candidates, Marine Le-Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, has pledged to sanction any member or candidate who makes “inadmissible comments.” While she acknowledges that there may be “black sheep” in the party, she emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between those who have made “gross mistakes” and those who have simply made “clumsy” remarks.
Several candidates from the French far right have been embroiled in controversy due to their racist and xenophobic statements. As a result, Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, has acknowledged that there may be problematic members within the party and has taken action by expelling them and withdrawing their candidacy from legislative elections.
One such incident involved Paule Veyre de Soras, a candidate for Mayenne’s third constituency, who made statements suggesting that the National Rally was comprised of Jews, Muslims, and Spaniards. While Le Pen acknowledged that Veyre de Soras’ approach was clumsy, she maintained that it did not prove racism. She explained in an interview that certain types of comments are unacceptable and will result in sanctions but others are just clumsy.
Le Pen also criticized certain media outlets for acting as “grand inquisitors” by bringing attention to compromising statements made by National Rally candidates. However, Bardella had already acknowledged the presence of problematic individuals among his candidates and was quick to take action when necessary. The party has faced backlash in recent weeks due to comments or situations involving candidates with xenophobic or racist attitudes; both Le Pen and Bardella have addressed this issue openly.
